I hope they pass this one, and I don’t understand why the committee recommendation is to reject it.
andrew-ssays
And does that mean that voter-discretion absentee balloting is at least possible in the Commonwealth, if the legislature ever passes appropriate legislation?
Unfortunately, there’s a bad constitutional provision in place that must be amended before no-excuse absentee voting is possible. So this provision (which was passed) has to be passed again by the next session, and then put on the 2008 ballot.
andrew-ssays
we’ll have no-reason absentee balloting for the 2010 elections?
<
p>
Or is it possible that we’ll have two of these changes on the 2008 ballot: the one that just passed and the one coming up later in today’s session? If so, which one would “win” if both passed? I think my confusion just returned. đŸ™‚
fairdealsays
david, can you keep us informed of the hatchet job that will be performed on the healthcare amendment?
<
p>
(i wouldn’t be surprised if it comes up to vote a little bit after the parking lot attendants lock up for the night.)
the LG amendment is on the calendar, as is the text of the Gov Council amendment.
andrew-ssays
Yes, there’s a proposed amendment to the constitution that provides for the selection of a Lieutenant Governor by the former Lt.Gov. (who, at least in the text here, is know as “Governor” and not “Acting Governor” — another change?), and must be approved by a majority of both houses.
<
p>
The amendment was formally “not” recommended by the Judiciary Committee, though one senator and two reps dissented from this non-rec, so Trav will have to fail to hear at least three votes in favor if he wants it unanimous again. đŸ™‚
First you’d have to tell me the current method of replacing the Governor’s Council is (which is, I’d assume, the current Article XXV). How do they replace such members? Appointment? By whom? What does happen if the vacancy occurs when the term has more than six months to run?
<
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I’d have to study the new Governor+Lt.Gov replacement article (and I’m not sufficiently interested to search for it right now), but I can see a fiddly bit they neglected in the text of the amendment: if you’re replacing Article III with a new Article III and a new Article IV, you really ought to specify that you’re renumbering the old IV to V and so on down the line. Constitutions look stupid with two Article IVs, and amending those two Articles thereafter is a real headache.
p>
For some reason I’d remembered amendments as being on the regular November election in the past, but they blur into the other ballot initiatives in my mind.
<
p>
Someone around here know for sure whether the 2008 balloting for any constitutional amendments passed by the General Court this year (session?) and next will be in a special election or on the November general election ballot?
p>
Article XXV. In case of a vacancy in the council, from a failure of election or other cause, the senate and house of representatives shall, by concurrent vote, choose some eligible person from the people of the district wherein such vacancy occurs, to fill that office. If such vacancy shall happen when the legislature is not in session, the governor, with the advice and consent of the council, may fill the same by appointment of some eligible person.
<
p>
The proposal:
<
p>
Article XXV. In the case of a vacancy in the council, from a failure of election, or other cause, the secretary of state shall cause precepts to be issued to the proper officers directing them to call a election to fill such vacancy, which elections shall occur no later than 6 months following the occurrence of the vacancy.
<
p>
Sure seems reasonable to me.
andrew-ssays
for a special election with just a Governor’s Council seat at stake? How many people even know what the Governor’s Council does?
<
p>
These aren’t particularly good reasons for not having an election to have a seat at the table when deciding judicial appointments, nor is the expense of putting an eighth of the state having an election solely for this purpose.
<
p>
On the other hand, they’re proposing today to have a Lieutenant Governor appointed by the Governor and approved by each house of the legislature—and this isn’t so different—to fill out a four-year term; Governor’s Council is a two-year term.
<
p>
So the proposal seems reasonable in the abstract; I’m wondering whether it’s worth it given the post involved.
peter-porcupine says
I mean, it’s NOT like it’s never come up….
david says
I hope they pass this one, and I don’t understand why the committee recommendation is to reject it.
andrew-s says
And does that mean that voter-discretion absentee balloting is at least possible in the Commonwealth, if the legislature ever passes appropriate legislation?
peter-porcupine says
david says
Unfortunately, there’s a bad constitutional provision in place that must be amended before no-excuse absentee voting is possible. So this provision (which was passed) has to be passed again by the next session, and then put on the 2008 ballot.
andrew-s says
we’ll have no-reason absentee balloting for the 2010 elections?
<
p>
Or is it possible that we’ll have two of these changes on the 2008 ballot: the one that just passed and the one coming up later in today’s session? If so, which one would “win” if both passed? I think my confusion just returned. đŸ™‚
fairdeal says
david, can you keep us informed of the hatchet job that will be performed on the healthcare amendment?
<
p>
(i wouldn’t be surprised if it comes up to vote a little bit after the parking lot attendants lock up for the night.)
peter-porcupine says
Yes, we will hve to chip in and get Trav that hearing aid for Christmas…
ron-newman says
What did the amendment say, that it got defeated like this?
<
p>
Is there in fact an amendment on the table for filling a Lt. Governor vacancy?
david says
the LG amendment is on the calendar, as is the text of the Gov Council amendment.
andrew-s says
Yes, there’s a proposed amendment to the constitution that provides for the selection of a Lieutenant Governor by the former Lt.Gov. (who, at least in the text here, is know as “Governor” and not “Acting Governor” — another change?), and must be approved by a majority of both houses.
<
p>
The amendment was formally “not” recommended by the Judiciary Committee, though one senator and two reps dissented from this non-rec, so Trav will have to fail to hear at least three votes in favor if he wants it unanimous again. đŸ™‚
<
p>
(Link to today’s concon agenda is here.)
ron-newman says
Thanks. Any idea why the committee recommended against these two proposals? They seem quite reasonable to me.
peter-porcupine says
Now if DEVAL had wanted it…
andrew-s says
First you’d have to tell me the current method of replacing the Governor’s Council is (which is, I’d assume, the current Article XXV). How do they replace such members? Appointment? By whom? What does happen if the vacancy occurs when the term has more than six months to run?
<
p>
I’d have to study the new Governor+Lt.Gov replacement article (and I’m not sufficiently interested to search for it right now), but I can see a fiddly bit they neglected in the text of the amendment: if you’re replacing Article III with a new Article III and a new Article IV, you really ought to specify that you’re renumbering the old IV to V and so on down the line. Constitutions look stupid with two Article IVs, and amending those two Articles thereafter is a real headache.
peter-porcupine says
andrew-s says
I’m new to all this in Massachusetts.
<
p>
For some reason I’d remembered amendments as being on the regular November election in the past, but they blur into the other ballot initiatives in my mind.
<
p>
Someone around here know for sure whether the 2008 balloting for any constitutional amendments passed by the General Court this year (session?) and next will be in a special election or on the November general election ballot?
ron-newman says
andrew-s says
Good to know for sure.
ron-newman says
From http://www.mass.gov/… the current langauge:
<
p>
Article XXV. In case of a vacancy in the council, from a failure of election or other cause, the senate and house of representatives shall, by concurrent vote, choose some eligible person from the people of the district wherein such vacancy occurs, to fill that office. If such vacancy shall happen when the legislature is not in session, the governor, with the advice and consent of the council, may fill the same by appointment of some eligible person.
<
p>
The proposal:
<
p>
Article XXV. In the case of a vacancy in the council, from a failure of election, or other cause, the secretary of state shall cause precepts to be issued to the proper officers directing them to call a election to fill such vacancy, which elections shall occur no later than 6 months following the occurrence of the vacancy.
<
p>
Sure seems reasonable to me.
andrew-s says
for a special election with just a Governor’s Council seat at stake? How many people even know what the Governor’s Council does?
<
p>
These aren’t particularly good reasons for not having an election to have a seat at the table when deciding judicial appointments, nor is the expense of putting an eighth of the state having an election solely for this purpose.
<
p>
On the other hand, they’re proposing today to have a Lieutenant Governor appointed by the Governor and approved by each house of the legislature—and this isn’t so different—to fill out a four-year term; Governor’s Council is a two-year term.
<
p>
So the proposal seems reasonable in the abstract; I’m wondering whether it’s worth it given the post involved.